Central Standard Crafthouse and Kitchen

First time here. We came with a group of 4, and had a 7pm reservation. The place was less than half full. Got a high top, towards the rear of the dining room. There is some nice light coming in the from the large south facing windows. The building is historical and restored, and the sloping floor might take getting a little used to. Our server did a great job of getting us settled in with water, and menus. (and they did a great job the entire evening - thanks Mckinley!) They have an excellent selection of different cocktails. We decided on a couple of different Old Fashioned that were excellent. The dinner menu also had lots of good choices to pick from. To start we had some cheese curds. These are from Valley Dairy and had a Bourbon batter. Came out hot, creamy cheese and a very flavorful. The rest of the meal entrees were an eclectic mix Walleye, Chicken Piccata, Pork Chop and Smashburger. My smashburger was very good, although it could have been even better, if could just a bit longer for more caramelization. The Pork Chop was the perfect temperature and doneness. Super tender too. The Truffle Spoonbread was as good as the pork chop. The other entrees were hits as well. We left room for some dessert, and ended up splitting a piece of the Tiramisu. Which can sometimes be tricky (or stale/soggy), but this piece was as good as the rest of the meal. The entire evening was a hit. We all agreed that it's a place that we could easily return to.

We had a blast here today during brunch. Corbin our server was amazing, very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. Kathy the host was amazing, she made sure we had our liquor to go sampler. The main reason we chose Central standard was due to our gluten free dietary restrictions, and holy hell they did not disappoint. The cheese curds were amazing ! Not to mention the hash brown bombs and devil eggs. Side note, use of the word amazing in this review is sponsored by the $25 bottomless mimosas special. Ftw, Philly Bennie !

Awesome spot for food & drinks. Bartenders make great drinks & actually interact with customers Rooftop is a bonus place to enjoy your drink although there didn't appear to be a separate bar up there Update: not sure why, but the closing staff is no where near as friendly & welcoming as the morning staff despite there being less people & less offered (kitchen closed). I felt like I was inconveniencing the staff when I came back in the evening.

We spent our anniversary weekend in Milwaukee and ended up here for a good chunk of the time! We heard about it on 97.3 The Game and decided to check it out. We had a great brunch burger with our cocktails one day then went back for a delicious brunch where we were spoiled with Mimosas by Cassie and Brianna (sp?)! The ambiance was warm and everyone was so friendly and welcoming, from hosts. To Bartenders, and servers. Thank you for making our weekend a special one. We will be back!

Central Standard just happened to be down the block from our hotel. Super convenient. Best walleye I’ve ever had. Old Fashioned was just ok. Sippen on Sunshine was amazing. Fantastic service!

I had the shrimp and scallops and the dish was very flavorful and the presentation was very nice. I also had a large slice of key lime pie that was excellent. The place was very busy which is always a good indicator if it’s going to be good. The location is close to parking and close to several hotels within walking distance.

Great vibes, awesome food, yum drinks and fun times here at the Central Standard. Simple, rustic modern, with pretty lighting and open concept. There is a parking lot right next to the building, but it's paid parking. Free street parking after 6pm if you can find spots. Very inviting as I come in. Love the little vases with flowers on each table. The sitting area by the window is great. The dining area towards the back is also great, but the floors are a little weird and slopes at odd angles. So I was uncomfortable sitting at our table. Our server was friendly and caring, and we felt very well taken care of. The standard Salad (green Goddess dressing) The dressing was a bit more vinaigrette-y than the green goddess I’m used to. So the salad was also a bit more vinegary than I would have liked. Parmesan & chive hummus Comes with naan and veggies! Delicious! Smash burger I asked whether the substitute lettuce for the buns could be whole leaves, and they don’t have that, but they put garden salad mix instead. Very thoughtful. The patty itself was a bit salty. Fries that came with had been sitting out for a while. Beer can chicken sandwich Great sandwich, and tasty, but again, chicken was a bit on the salty side. Otherwise, it was great. Only complaint is that it seemed small. Hopefully not the norm, but maybe just cuz it’s for dining week. Key Lime Pie So good! Loved the lime flavor exuding! Chocolate Cheesecake Total opposite of the key lime pie, but perfect to eat along with! Old Fashioned (bourbon, sour) - just how I like it door county cherry vodka - very cherry, quite sweet. Not my thing. high rye whiskey - so this smelled so strong... I was the driver so skipped, but hub says: not the best I've had, but pretty good. And he turned red (seriously, this never happens. I was shocked).

Great atmosphere and inside decor. The rooftop patio gives a view of the lake and city.

The food was delicious! Multiple gluten free options! I love that there was a gluten free dessert! Yummy! I had the Angus Filet:Pan Seared, Brown Butter Whipped Potato, Charred Broccolini, Confit Shallot, Bordelaise Sauce (Gluten-Free) And Central Standard Trio: A Scoop Of Dockside Bourbon Chocolate Brownie, North Brandy Old Fashioned & Guided Trail Blueberry Sorbet (Vegetarian, Gluten-Free*)

We have visit twice now. Love the cocktails and the food (sorry no photos of the food...had the turkey club with fries...yummy). The bartenders and manager were all super friendly. We really enjoyed driving to Milwaukee just for a drink. Fun place. Check it out.

Server Chloe was excellent. Cocktails were delicious and food was tasty!! Highly recommend a stop there. It's a block from the City Market and close to most hotels!

Very cool venue in downtown Milwaukee for bourbon, whiskey and cocktails. We sat in the upstairs lounge area and had some drinks prior to going out to dinner. It was super chill and comfortable. Service was great too. Enjoyed our cocktails and moved on, but really want to come back and try the food and spend more time here. Came highly recommended and didn't disappoint. We'll be back!

This was a beautiful experience. We LOVED our cocktails—the Wisconsin Mule is so good it actually causes you to smile. Even though there wasn’t really a kids menu, the kids loved the focaccia and butter and cheese board. We all had a fabulous dinner and the gluten free options were clearly marked on the menu. The finale was the rooftop drink and bottle of bourbon (with 10% off) we’ll take home.

I hosted a wonderful bridal luncheon at Central Standard. The preplanning was flawless. Leigha and Justin were responsive and easy to work with. The event was great! Superior service and food. Also reasonably priced.

Finding new places like this is one of the reasons we love visiting Milwaukee. Game plan was to have a cocktail and check out a nearby brewery I had bookmarked, but ended up sticking around for a couple rounds. It was that enjoyable! We had visited on a Friday evening after dinner nearby, and managed to snag two seats at the bar. Honestly, I think we lucked out because it was pretty full as all the tables within sight were occupied. They do serve food if you're looking to make a meal of the visit, however we were just here to get our drink on. First round I ended up trying a flight of some various whiskey & bourbons that were available. Your choice of 3 and comes with a glass to take home! Quite the deal! Next rounds I went for a Manhattan and a Milwaukee Sour since I was intrigued by the grape juice foam it was topped with. Manhattan was solid, and Milwaukee Sour wasn't really my thing but at least I can say I've tried a grape juice foam in a cocktail. Anyways, overall vibe and ambiance is what had us sticking around for longer than expected. Service at the bar was great. Worth a stop if you're looking for some cocktails! 'Til next time, cheers!

Fantastic! Great atmosphere and even better food! The flavors were amazing. The drinks were so good and unique yet really worth the experience. Jackson was our server and he was so great! So knowledgeable and also super fun! Definitely worth the visit and will definitely be back soon! Don’t forget to check out the aviary rooftop…. It’s a can’t miss!!

Wow, if you're googling free, this is a great place to go looking for free fish.Couldn't free friars all dedicated?Wonderful place to visat 3 levels.We have rooftop nice little bar

We recently hosted an executive panel event at Central Standard, and everything, from the space to the service, was outstanding. The venue itself is beautiful, warm, and welcoming with an elevated yet approachable vibe that worked perfectly for our group. If you're looking for a Milwaukee venue that feels special, runs smoothly, and leaves a lasting impression—this is it. Highly recommend.

What a great place! Delicious cocktails but the food was AMAZING. We had the beet/brussel sprout salad and the chimichuri steak. 10/10 absolutely recommend. The bartenders were also very knowledgeable and kind.

We had an incredible visit to this awesome addition to downtown. 4 floors of multi use space with the anchor downstairs with food and retail. The servers are AMAZING with their passion and knowledge and excitement of building the brand. The food was well thought out, creative and delicious. These concepts are what make a city unique and wonderful and adventuring about so much fun. GOOD ON YOU CSC ... you have new few fans. We appreciate you. **update: your quick response and kind words speaks volumes to your commitment to your brand, your experience, and your leadership...much success wished your way!

Awesome place! I've been here a few times. Highly recommend checking out their rooftop bar in the summer, planning an event in their basement space, or just going to grab a drink indoors. Our most recent visit, we celebrated being selected for the Brandy Old Fashioned Hall of Fame. (Class of 2023) Find our name in the downstairs room!

Service was amazing! Bourbon and rye were phenomenal

Stopped in to try their bourbon and rye prior to bottle purchase. Ended up getting lunch and cocktails as well. Spent some time on the amazing rooftop lounge. Wonderful experience.

Staff was speedy. The place gets jumping at happy hour. We came earlier to work and sip and was good for that. Apps are large portions.

The bartender, (Dan) was very knowledgeable about the area and provided a Midwestern welcome to this beautifully renovated establishment. The roof top bar was absolutely gorgeous, and the bar interior gives a warm and welcoming vibe. Really enjoyed our drinks, and the atmosphere here. The drinks were top notch due to Dan's expertise. Highly recommend for a chill vibe with a inner city historic feel.

Last month I had a large family gathering for family photos which - because of Covid and then due to venue cancellations - I was left with a mere few days to find a place to have them taken. So, when I called another venue and they too were booked, the man I spoke with recommended The Discovery Place. I called and spoke with a man named Ben Cook who said that was booked but he offered me the upstairs to the Central Standard Brewery for the pics, just asked that we frequent the brewery pub downstairs afterwards. In appreciation and because it’s MY family, I believe we “frequented” them to the tune of about $400 bucks — with pleasure! The staff was AMAZING. Friendly and so nice to my people (some of who partook more than others in that spend lol). Ben, if you see this, I can’t thank you enough. Our photographer said that area upstairs was perfect for a photo sesh. You saved my butt when I had nowhere else to turn. You rock! I’ll be back to Central Standard with friends in tow!

If I could give this place 10 stars, I would! We had a wonderful experience here. The atmosphere was clean & cool and the service was fantastic! They had great gluten free options - including all spirits, hamburger buns, and fries. Our food was excellent! Our waitress, Chloe, was so friendly and knowledgeable about everything on the menu, which helped me to feel more confident that things were actually gluten free. Chloe offered us a sampling of a house-crafted gin and educated us on its ingredients, aroma, and flavor profile. This little experience was a fun bonus! My husband says the Red Cabin Bourbon is the best bourbon he has ever had. We will be back!

Had a fantastic event here! Justin, Leigha, and Bryce were great to work with and the food was amazing. Would absolutely have another event here, planning with them was a breeze.

We hosted our rehearsal and welcome party here for our wedding! The team and Leigha executed everything perfectly and it was all a seamless transition. Leigha and everyone I worked with was so responsive and truly made everything so easy for us! Can't recommend them enough for private events.

I had an exceptional experience at Central Standard that deserves recognition. Last Saturday, I called to make a reservation, and the gentleman who answered asked if we were celebrating anything special. Trying to keep things light, I said, “I guess we can say I’m celebrating my car dying...when it rains, it pours haha.” I meant it jokingly and didn’t expect anything to come of it. When I arrived for my reservation, I was genuinely shocked and impressed. A few minutes after I was seated, the same gentleman who had taken my call came over and handed me a handwritten card. Inside was a thoughtful note acknowledging my situation, a small illustration, and a message letting me know the first round was on them. I’ve never experienced a restaurant take that kind of initiative over something mentioned so casually. Although I didn’t catch his name, his kindness, and the kindness of the entire staff, truly stood out. The food was excellent, the drinks were great, the atmosphere was welcoming, and every interaction with staff was top-tier. Central Standard went above and beyond in every way. I’ll be recommending them to everyone.

We came here for our anniversary dinner and the food and drinks were phenomenal! Our server Chloe was SUCH a delight! She really made the whole experience! Easily one of the best server experiences I’ve ever had. The rooftop was also so nice to enjoy our last drink. Thank you all!

Came here for my birthday brunch and it was lovely. The brunch menu is great and everything our table ordered was delicious. I split a plate with my daughter and they were so helpful in cutting our pancakes in half for us, making the whole process smoother. Drinks were great and they do offer bottomless mimosas and bloodies. Not my thing, but I had the lavender London fog and it was incredible. Seats were super comfortable and the space felt so bright and airy. Staff made my birthday feel special and we will definitely be going back soon to try the rest of the menu. Highly recommend.

Super cool place! The 100 year old building has a lot of character with brick walls and old wood floors. It was tastefully and carefully remodeled. The staff was super friendly and the service was excellent. We came for lunch and enjoyed a smash burger and a quimwa bowl. Both we good. Enjoyed the tiramisu for dessert, and it was remarkable. Our other purpose for visiting on this day was to check out the private party space. Definitely a private space, but not isolated from the world. Very comfortable and spacious.

Staff were really helpful and the food was very good! You can park in the paid lot or there's free street parking after 6pm. They also gave us samples of some locally brewed drink since it is a distillery too. My friend needs to eat gluten free and she really enjoyed that so much GF items were on the menu. They also offer a bunch of Milwaukee classic drinks and special holiday themed menu (yay steak) when I stopped by. You can easily split the check here which is nice, they have a portable checkout thing where you can split in different amounts and tip separately per person.

We had our holiday party at Central Standard in The Mix meeting space. It's beautiful! Justin and Bryce (and the bartenders) were amazing and very attentive. The food was great too! Received many compliments on the venue, food, and staff. Even a few said it was the best party we have had. :)

The brunch menu was fantastic, although the hash browns were a bit oily, the overall experience was still very good. However, it would have been better with more staff as our waiter forgot to bring our side of bacon and cheese. Nevertheless, the brunch service was excellent, despite this minor inconvenience.

Very stylish locale straddling Downtown and the 3rd Ward. Late in the afternoon, not busy and friendly service. Lotsa folks working on laptops. The seasonal pumpkin spice latte cocktail is excellent loaded with flavor. The fries with sandwich very crispy. Good bun on the Milwaukee cheese steak. Because the shaved ribeye is so rich, it could've used something with a bit of a bite to balance it, eg more horseradish. The veggies that were supposed to be on it were a bit paltry. So, tasty but not first rate.

Our server wasn't the most attentive or easy to talk to but since we were here as a duo we didn't need that. The drinks are fantastic, highly recommend the seasonal apple pie velvet shot. We enjoyed the cheese curds, brat board, and shrimp & scallops dish.

Awesome interior, wish they served full drink/food on roof top. Bloody Mary’s were good, deviled eggs were top notch until I found a piece of glass in mine. Thank goodness I felt it on my tooth and it did not cut my mouth. The GM was there, apologized and comped the drinks. I thought it was deserving of a comped meal. Took longer than the usual time to obtain the check. After that experience don’t make me wait to pay. And don’t make me wait to get my chsnge back.

Atmosphere was great. Service was just ok. We don’t see our server much and our appetizers came out at the same time as our meal. I ordered the Angus Filet cooked medium and it came out rare and chewy. The mashed potatoes that came with it was good. The broccolini was undercooked as well. My wife had the Chicken Penne and she didn’t eat much either because of the amount of black pepper they had in the noodles and chicken. The pretzel as the appetizer was about the only good thing.